Creation of the site was a collaborative effort between Fairfield University’s School of Engineering students, who worked on the site as part of their capstone coursework, along with project partners from Georgetown University and Universidad Centroamericano (UCA) in Nicaragua. The project is named “Collaborative Project in Student Learning: The Examination of Enduring Questions through Humanitarian Education.”

The grant, worth $260,000, comes from the New York City-based Teagle Foundation, who works to support and strengthen liberal arts education, which fosters meaningful work, effective citizenship, and a fulfilling life. The three-year grant — the second one from the Teagle Foundation for JUHAN — concerns preparing students for responsible civic engagement as well as professional careers in humanitarian service at three Jesuit institutions.

JUHAN Online will serve as a communication portal and information clearinghouse to support the work of partner universities across the growing JUHAN network. The website will also serve as both a virtual “toolkit” of replicable teaching materials and best practices. Sample syllabi, course outlines, assessment tools, and strategies to engage students in humanitarian action will be available.

JUHAN was originally founded in 2008, a collaboration between Fairfield, Georgetown and Fordham Universities on the premise that institutions will be more effective working together to address the needs of those who are suffering. Since JUHAN’s formation, the network has worked together to address many recent crises, from the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines to the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015. Students learn how to advocate, fundraise and take action on global humanitarian crises. The upcoming 2015 Humanitarian Action Day will be recognized across the JUHAN network on Friday, Nov. 20, with a special emphasis on the Syrian Refugee Crisis. This is the 3rd annual Humanitarian Action Day in recognition of Universal Children’s Day celebrated on November 20th. On this day universities and students join in solidarity to help those in need both locally and globally.